Slideshow: Inside IBM’s superconductor lab

The science already spawned breakthroughs in computer memory. Parkin’s work in 1989 led to the development of giant magneto-resistive heads that powered a generation of hard disk drives.

Since then Parkin’s work spawned interest in magneto-resistive RAM that some see as a possible replacement for both DRAM and flash. IBM developed an MRAM prototype in 1999, is currently developing a 16 Mbit chip, and has a development effort with Micron on the topic, though Parkin declined to discuss its status.

Separately, Parkin leads work on so-called racetrack memory, another candidate for a future universal memory, one that promises densities that could rival hard disk drives. The racetrack work is going “extremely well,” said Parkin.

“We have some new materials to create more narrow domain walls and thinner racetracks with lower current densities--I call it Racetrack 2.0,” Parkin said, noting it could still take three to five years to prove the technology is feasible for commercial use.

“We need to build prototype devices that operate reliably over a long time and make the characteristics similar so all the racetracks behave the same way,” Parkin added. “Currently we are working on lab prototypes of individual racetracks exploring their physics and materials."

Kevin Roche, lead automation engineer at the IBM lab, keeps the systems running and hosted out tour. The console shows the four vacuum chambers in the $3 million lab.

The lab doesn't look messy to me, it simply looks jam packed. Wires, cables, etc are not bundled up, making their access and debugging easy and adding flexibility. However, I'm guessing that there is a lot of old "junk" in those cabinets in the background...

A messy lab like that means job security. Who would be able to make heads or tails out of it that is not intimately familiar with "the layout". (I am joking and agree that a messy desk or lab usually means a lot is going on).
Very interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing the views.

Agree. A messy lab means real work is being done. Always question a clean engineering desk. If the research in room temperature levitation properties helps us get flying cars, then I'm all for keeping the lab as messy as possible.